Driver charged with drunk driving in injury crash; five more hurt in separate accidents

Written by Marty Randall

Tuesday, 05 March 2013 00:00

An Austin couple escaped serious injury when the car the woman was driving was struck head-on by an apparent drunk driver on U.S. Highway 31 on Friday, February 22. The accident was one of five that occurred in Scott County since that date. Sheriff’s deputies went to the site of the accident around 11 a.m. on that Friday and found Michael M. Barrett, 44, Austin, and an injured couple, Don and Marilyn Feltner, also of Austin. According to statements taken from witnesses at the scene, Barrett allegedly traveled left of the center several times before his southbound Ford Lincoln ran a gold car off the highway and went on to strike the Feltners’ northbound car head-on. Marilyn Feltner reportedly suffered back, leg and head injuries. She was transported to University of Louisville Hospital by Scott County EMS. Don Feltner experienced neck and shoulder pain. He was taken to Scott Memorial Hospital in Scottsburg and then released. Marilyn Feltner was released from the Louisville facility over that weekend. Property damage was estimated at up to $25,000. Chief Deputy Don Campbell placed Barrett into custody at the scene. Barrett was transported to the Scott County Security Center in Scottsburg. He was charged on Monday, February 25, with a Class A misdemeanor, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, in Scott Superior Court, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Deputies also investigated a one-car crash on State Road 356 near Slate Ford Road on Saturday, February 23, that occurred at 10:16 p.m. The driver of the 1999 Infinity, identified as Elizabeth L. Dickson, 45, of Schiller Park, Il., was found with her vehicle off the highway. She told Deputy Joe Johnson that she had been headed east when she started running off the road on its south side. She said she over-corrected her steering and ran off the north side of the road, flipping several times. Dickson received medical treatment from technicians with Scott County EMS at the scene for unspecified injuries. Property damage was estimated by the officer at up to $25,000. Deputy Johnson was assisted at the scene by Deputy James Shelton and Reserve Deputy Ron Howard. On Tuesday, February 26, a single car accident injured a 17-year-old youth. The mishap took place just before 4 p.m. at Crothersville and Water Tower Roads. The driver was identified as Dustin D. McCleery, Scottsburg. McCleery could not tell Deputy Shawn Mayer what had happened to cause the 2004 Ford F150 pickup to leave the road. The truck ended up in a roadside ditch. McCleery experienced chest pain and was treated by Scott County EMS technicians. Property damage was estimated at up to $10,000. Deputy Mayer was assisted at the scene by Deputies Rodney Rudder and Joe Guarneri. A little after 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1, deputies were called out to a wreck on State Road 356 East that occurred about 3,000 feet west of Wingate Road. The driver, Holt L. Hutchins, 34, Scottsburg, advised he had been driving east in his 2006 Chrysler when he must have fallen asleep. The car ran off the side of the road and struck a tree. A youngster in the car, Holt Hutchins, 11, Scottsburg, experienced chest pain. Scott County EMS technicians assisted the boy at the scene. Deputy Guarneri estimated property damage at up to $25,000. Assisting him at the scene were Sheriff Dan McClain and Chief Deputy Don Campbell. City police were called into action that same evening when they were dispatched to the intersection of State Road 56 West and Beechwood Avenue to investigate a crash. The mishap occurred around 6:30 p.m. and involved a 1995 Chevy Caprice driven by Charles A. Baylor, 76, Scottsburg, and a 1999 Jeep Wrangler operated by Trent A. Campbell, 20, Scottsburg. According to statements taken by Patrolman Trevis Burr, Baylor said he turned west onto S.R. 56 from South Beechwood Ave. in front of the eastbound Campbell. The Jeep hit the car in the passenger door, injuring Judy A. Baylor, 67. She suffered a possible upper arm/shoulder injury. Scott County EMS technicians assisted the injured woman. Property damage was estimated at up to $5,000 by Ptl. Burr. He was assisted at the scene by Patrolman Rodney Watts. Just after 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, a stray animal in a city street helped to cause a one-car crash on Scottsburg’s south side. Paige M. Hall, 18, Scottsburg, was headed north on South Second Street when the animal ran out in front of the 1999 Saturn she was driving. The girl swerved to avoid the dog, and her driver side tires went off the pavement. As the car continued on, it struck a concrete culvert. Hall suffered minor facial bleeding from the accident. Scott County EMS technicians were on hand to help her. Ptl. Burr was the investigating officer, assisted by Sgt. Joe Nicholson. Ptl. Burr estimated property damage at up to $5,000. There were reports of a motorcyclist injured on Monday morning, March 4, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and S.R. 56 in Scottsburg. Details about the accident were not available that day.